Redzilla's Entertainment Noose
It was only recently pointed out to me that I'm obsessed with movies in a way most people aren't. At the time I was lamenting that I don't really have any hobbies. I go to work, I write, I go to the gym, I snuggle the cats. Not that my life is lacking in any way, but I thought, "Didn't I used to have hobbies?" My friend Spucko pointed out that I do have a hobby: movies. Apparently, not everyone gets two movies a week from Netflix and regularly supplements with more videos from a local indy theater rental place. I guess not everyone would drive 45-minutes on a Saturday to watch two movies back to back. So, okay, I like movies. A lot. Okay, fine, so my favorite holiday is one I created: Cinemas.
I spend a lot of time contemplating movies, waiting for movies to be released, lamenting various cinematic failures. Which leads me to my rare little discourse into entertainment news.
The Incredible Hulk
Really? With Ed Norton? Have we already forgotten the other CGI-failure that was The Hulk with Eric Bana? Has Ed Norton forgotten about it? That was only five years ago. Look, I liked the TV show. I was prepared to like the movie. Great actors, a good script, and Ang Lee. Ang freaking Lee, my people. Think about that. No less than Ang Lee made hash of the Incredible Hulk, and this Louis Leterrier thinks he can do better? No offense to Louis, the director of The Transporter movies, but really--The Transporter movies? I know one person who's going to see this iteration of the Hulk: my sister. Ed Norton is her movie boyfriend. (And speaking of TV/movie boyfriends, imagine my surprise that my Lost boyfriend lived to menace another episode.)
Guillermo del Toro
I want to be happy that Guillermo's been tapped to direct The Hobbit and its sequel, but mostly it just makes me sad. I don't like Tolkien. I sat through the LOTR movies with the same commitment to cultural anthropology that made me sit through the new Star Wars movies. Hobbits? Yawn-fest. Too much nobility. Too much "evil." So, the thought of del Toro going to New Zealand for four years to devote himself to movies that spark no interest in me...well, it's like finding out that he's going to be in a coma for the next four years. My one solace: at least the second Hellboy movie is going to be released soon. Three Four of my favorite things in one movie: Hellboy, Ron Perlman, and Guillermo del Toro, oh, and a Rammstein song.
Coming Soon
Son of Rambow. Cannot wait for this. The preview made my brain tingle.
Iron Man. Robert Downey, Jr. is either awful or great. No middle ground.
Harold & Kumar Escape from Guantanamo. Can it possibly be as funny as the movie posters?
Mr. Lonely. About a commune of celebrity impersonators. Directed by Harmony Korine. What's not to like?
In other not news
And hey, you know which entertainment figure we haven't seen in the news lately? Yeah, and we're not going to mention her here, either.
Comments
I'm a big movie fan, but I can't be bothered with the theater for much unless it's something really special. It's a fun experience, but I really prefer watching stuff at home.
I don['t really have any hobbies either...and I am not nearly as movie hungry as you are! I am meh about everything I have any interest in. I'm interested, but too lazy to be obsessed.
I did get a picture for you of a train car that says "Herzog" on it though!
I love the movies, but I have to admit, I'm more of a fan of "flicks" than "Cinema". As in, most kitchen dramas, and epic romantic dramas, and Art House type movies are lost on me. I'd rather chortle like Beavis and Butthead at explosions, snappy one liners, and fast cars.
So, take this for what it's worth, but I'm most looking forward to Harold and Kumar, Iron Man, and so on. Harold and Kumar go to White Castle is actually a really funny movie, with a lot of decent social satire and subversion of movie norms. I expect that going from domestic to international social satire might even make them funnier. And Neil Patrick Harris is typecasting himself furiously into the kind of rabbit hole that I really kinda want to see go rancid. I think it'll be interesting. Here's an urbane theater rat, who happens to be out of the closet, playing himself as, well, Robert Downey Jr. Meanwhile, Robert Downey junior is so far ahead of the game, in terms of a kind of 21st century "Behind the Music' kind of VH1 Celebreality that him going to a crass Superhero franchise blockbuster is bound to lead to some kind of massive crash and burn. I want to see it.
I love Tolkien, but I'm indifferent to the films. The reason I'm glad Guillermo del Toro is directing The Hobbit is that it means Peter Jackson won't be. I'd be happier if Jackson wasn't even producing.